MIND-BLOWING BRAINS How research helps us look inside the brain
MIND-BLOWING BRAINS How research helps us look inside the brain
MIND-BLOWING BRAINS How research helps us look inside the brain
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The <strong>brain</strong> is one of our<br />
most fascinating organs.<br />
Developments in technology<br />
and medicine mean that<br />
doctors and scientists can<br />
examine our <strong>brain</strong>s in more<br />
ways and more detail than<br />
ever before, all without<br />
having to open up <strong>the</strong> body.<br />
Join <strong>us</strong> as we find out more<br />
about how imaging <strong>research</strong><br />
has changed <strong>the</strong> way we can<br />
<strong>look</strong> <strong>inside</strong> <strong>the</strong> human <strong>brain</strong>.<br />
INSIDE<br />
NEURONS By NUMBERS<br />
A numerical tour of <strong>brain</strong>s<br />
and <strong>brain</strong> imaging.<br />
Why ThE BRAIN?<br />
Exploring <strong>the</strong> basics of <strong>brain</strong><br />
structure and function.<br />
STRUCTURAL IMAGING<br />
<strong>How</strong> <strong>research</strong>ers and clinicians<br />
can see <strong>inside</strong> our <strong>brain</strong>s.<br />
FUNCTIONAL IMAGING<br />
Ways to study what is happening<br />
in <strong>the</strong> <strong>brain</strong>.<br />
MyThBUSTING<br />
Putting to rest some common<br />
<strong>brain</strong>y misconceptions.<br />
KNOW yOUR <strong>MIND</strong><br />
Looking at some social, ethical<br />
and legal issues to do with <strong>the</strong> <strong>brain</strong>.<br />
REAL vOICES<br />
Three people talk about <strong>the</strong><br />
role of <strong>brain</strong>s in <strong>the</strong>ir lives.<br />
ONLINE<br />
2 | BIG PICTURE 17: INSIDE THE bRAIN<br />
2<br />
4<br />
6<br />
8<br />
10<br />
12<br />
14<br />
Go to www.wellcome.ac.uk/bigpicture/<br />
<strong>brain</strong> for more teaching resources, including<br />
extra articles, videos, image galleries,<br />
curriculum links, lesson ideas, a poster and<br />
an animation of <strong>the</strong> action potential. You can<br />
also download <strong>the</strong> PDF of this magazine or<br />
subscribe to <strong>the</strong> Big Picture series.<br />
Neurons by numbers<br />
The vital stats of <strong>brain</strong>s and <strong>brain</strong> imaging<br />
AvERAGE hUMAN BRAIN vOLUME<br />
1.5 l<br />
1.0 l<br />
0.5 l<br />
0.0 l<br />
Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2711771/<br />
BRAIN SIzE AND MASS<br />
Relative <strong>brain</strong> size and<br />
shape viewed from top<br />
1.13 l<br />
Elephant<br />
Human<br />
Chimp<br />
0.42 kg<br />
1.26 l<br />
1.4 kg 4.8 kg<br />
Sources: faculty.washington.edu/chudler/facts.html, www.frontiersin.org/neuroanatomy/10.3389/fnana.2011.00029/full<br />
TOTAL NUMBER OF SyNAPSES IN hUMAN NEOCORTEx<br />
150 000 00<br />
The neocortex is a six-layered part of <strong>the</strong> cerebral cortex found in mammals.<br />
Source: postcog.ucd.ie/files/Pakkenberg%202003.pdf
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